I love Liz Gilbert. If I could take a writing class from anyone in the world, I would want it to be taught by her. This book was simply magical, and to me should be required reading for anyone who is a creative. A little woo-woo for some, but I loved it. I still haven’t finished reading it, because I don’t want it to be over.

I read all three of Scott’s lovely little volumes last year, and they’re as refreshing as a madeleine and a cup of tea on a sunny afternoon. In Paris. Well, almost. I’ll let you know once I’ve actually been to Paris. The newest incarnation, Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic: Lessons in Everyday Elegance inspired me so much that I chose Poise as my word for 2016.

Louis Zamperini comes to my mind often. What an amazing person. What endurance and grit. What forgiveness. I think I fell in love with him a little bit. I couldn’t put this one down, and when I did I immediately handed the book to my 14 year old son and said, “You must read this”. He did, and then we watched the movie together. A remarkable story about a remarkable human being.

Unless you’ve been living under the proverbial rock, you’ve heard of this one because everyone, it seemed, had an opinion on this book last year. I love any good book on de-cluttering, but this one had special charm. Now, instead of the “useful/beautiful” question, it’s “Does this spark joy?”. LOVE that. I even have my kids asking it when they clean their rooms. And my drawers are still KonMari’d.

Anyone who reads anything in the personal growth genre has heard of Carol Dweck, because she’s one of those scholars whose work everyone else quotes! Finally, at the urging of her students, she wrote her own book, and it’s phenomenal. I consider this book required reading for all human types. So often now, in some form or fashion, I find myself contemplating growth versus fixed mindsets. “Am I using a growth mindset now, or am I stuck in fixed?” Wonderful stuff. The applications of this book are broad and definitely worth contemplating.